When did Pythagoras invent the distance formula?

Answer 1

Pythagoras did not invent the distance formula as we know it today; however, he is credited with the Pythagorean theorem, which is foundational to the distance calculation in a Cartesian coordinate system. The distance formula, derived from the Pythagorean theorem, was formalized much later, in the context of coordinate geometry, which developed in the 17th century with the work of mathematicians like René Descartes. Thus, while Pythagoras' theorem laid the groundwork, the distance formula itself was not attributed to him.